Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Carers play a critical role in ensuring that older persons, people with disabilities and those who are seriously ill can remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Supporting and recognising carers in society has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for the carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended. I support the recent reforms of the carer's allowance scheme, which allow people in receipt of certain social welfare payments who provide full-time care and attention to others to retain their main social welfare payments and receive half-rate carer's allowance payments. The amount paid varies depending on the person's means.

As the Minister, Deputy Cullen, said, more than 34,000 carers now receive either carer's allowance or carer's benefit. They also receive a respite care grant, as do almost 10,000 other carers who do not qualify for weekly carer payments. These figures demonstrate the Government's commitment to carers. While we would all like the values to be greater, it should be acknowledged that we have come a long way in ten years. I will comment on some of the specific increases. The carer's allowance rate will increase by €14, bringing the weekly rate for carers over the age of 66 to €232 and that for carers under that age to €214. The rate of carer's benefit will also increase by €14. The increase of €200, to €1,700, in the respite care grant rate from June 2008 will allow more than 48,000 carers to have a well deserved break from their caring duties. This move represents a positive step towards the achievement of the Government's commitment to increase the respite care grant to €3,000 per year over the lifetime of this Administration. The level of income disregards for carer's allowance has been increased to €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means a couple can earn up to €60,150 per annum and still receive a reduced rate of carer's allowance, as well as the associated free travel and household benefits.

The social welfare budget package provides an additional €148 million to improve the range of supports which are provided for children. Increases of 6% or more in overall child income support are being made available in this budget through a combination of child benefit, qualified child increases, back to school clothing and footwear allowance and the early child care supplement. It also provides for increases in the threshold for family income supplement by €10 per week for each child, which will result in payments increasing by €6 a week per child. These improvements will benefit 26,500 existing families and will entitle a further 2,700 families to the payment.

I agree with previous speakers that the Minister should continue to examine the payments made under the back to school allowance scheme. As I said during the debate on last week's Budget Statement, I am critical of those local authorities which ambush tenants after increases have been announced. Somebody should grasp that nettle.

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